Improved latch



@initrd gioire GEORGE A. servus,

or vNew YORK, N. v

Letters Patent No. 96,624, ilatezllNvoeembervf), 1869,.

IMPROVE!) LATCH.

The Schedule referred to 'in these Letters Patent and making part of thesame.

I, GEORGE A. SEAVER, of,` New York, in the county and State of New York,havev invented certain Improvements iu Locks, of which the following isa specitication.

Nature and Objects of the Invention.

The first part of my invention relates to the change of position Of thelatch-bolt, by which the look may be used either as a righi. orleft-hand lock, without removing the spindle, or otherwise. disturbingthe inteior.

.lhe second part of my invention relates to' the mechanism operated bythe key, by which the connection between the handle and the bolt may beestablished or broken, as may be desired.

Description of 'the Drawing.

The drawing shows a rimllo'ck, of which theplate has been removed, forthe exhibition of the internal parts.

The Latch..

The spindle c operates the latch-tail b by means ofa tbllower, c, actingin opposition to a spring, d, in the usual manner. ,Y

The latch-bolt e is carried by a swivel on the 1atch. tail, that admitsof its being turned to face in either direction; und where the swivelis'made of a screw, the projection of the `latch may also be regulatedas may be required.

rlhe screw f, that passes through the Outer face of the lock, preventsthe passage ot' the latch entirely through the plate of the lock, and,therefore, prevents the turning ot' the latch; but when it is removed,the latch and latch-tail may be 'd rawu forward until the latch can beturned on its. swivel i'n either direction, and screwed in or out, asmay be desired.

The screw f may be one ot' the screws by which a rim-lock is secured toa. door; and in a mortise-lock, it may be a separate screw, provided forthe purpose.

The follower c is not fastened to the spindle in the ordinary manner,but slotted, or otherwise arranged, for the reception ot'. thespindle,-iu suoli 'a manner, that although the turning ot' the spindleturns the follower, to operate the latch-tail, the latter may bedrawnforward, to change the latch, without removing. the spindle.

The Key.

That part of the said invent-ion by which the locking and unlocking areeffected, consists in detach ing the spindle from the follower, bydrawing the` latter forward with the key, so that the lhandle andspindle maybe freelytnrned without moving.,r the latch-tail and latch.

When unlocked, the spring y throws the follower c back lipon thespindle, as shown in the drawing, so l that the three sidesof therectangular' portion of the recess of the follower lit around the squareshaft ol' the spindle, and enable the latter to turn the former, andoperate the latch, as usual.

The turning of the key moves the sliding tumbler h. which-bears affainstthe s rinY and carries it. and

the follower forward, sothat the square recess of thel latter isrelieved from the spindle, and the handle permitted to turn, withoutaffecting the latch.'

The latch may be retracted, by theclosiug of the door, after the keyvhas been turned, but it isentirel clear ot' the spindle; andthe handlemay be turned,

to try the bolt, without disturbing or straining any ot' the parts ofthe look. i I

The movement of theliey may be accompanied by vthe movements of'additional tulnblers, that may also be applied to the tail ot' thelatch, to hold the bolt in position, when detached from .the spindle, bya positiveattachment, in addition to itsspring.

ACare must be taken to have the screw f and other 'parts of the lookintheir proper places.

C latins.

Iclaim, as my invention- 1. The follower, made for the reception of thespindie, with a recess, substantially as described, one part of whichfits the spindle, and the other permits the spindle to turn freelytherein.

2. The combination of a latch with the sliding follower, so that thelatch may be reversed without re-

